2018 Giro d’Italia, Stage 14 Preview

The 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia is arguably the toughest this year. The route takes in four categorized climbs with double-digit gradients before the steep monster finale up Monte Zoncolan.

The route climbs up Monte di Ragogna, with gradients consistently over 10 percent for the first 2.5 kilometers and ramps topping out at 16 percent. The steepest stretches on the Avaglio get close to 15 percent. Passo Duron starts out at 18 percent; the climb is short, at 4.4 kilometers, but steep. The route drops down into Sutrio and takes in the Sella Valcalda, the easiest climb of the day, before the horrifying closing climb up the Zoncolan begins.

Monte Zoncolan is regarded as the hardest climb in Europe: a steep, winding climb with a nearly 12 percent average gradient and pitches that hit 22 percent over 10.1 kilometers. The climb features 4 grueling kilometers with an average gradient of 15.4 percent.

There are three short tunnels along the route in the last kilometer, leading to the final 500 meters with an average 11 percent gradient and pitches reaching 16 percent by the hairpin located 250 meters before the finish.

Do you want to know more about Monte Zoncolan and its Giro history? Click here.

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